The actors actually wrote the lyrics and played their own instruments throughout the movie. They even released a CD called Break Like The Wind which is actually not bad and well worth a listen.
Whoa...you know way too much detail about Buffy. You probably even know the song Zap City by The Cult...a band a bit like Spinal Tap with the way they got through their drummers!
Spinal Tap put out a new album in the 90s "Break Like the Wind" and went on tour. Mid tour, the drummer they hired fell down a short flight of stairs and broke his leg. When asked about it he said "I consider myself lucky" 😀🤣🤣
As for how actual real musicians feel about it the late David Crosby summed it up best: " Every band I've been on tour with has a copy of Spinal Tap on their tour bus. It's required viewing for those long hours on the road"
@@rodentnolastname6612 I second that. Played in some bands myself in the 90s and 2000s, and there is way more "truth" in this movie than you really like to admit. On the other hand, that makes this movie a classic for every single musician I know. Plus everyone can come up with similar stories from his own experience... :D
I was in bands in the 90s & 2000s too but none of them made it far enough to have any of these types of experiences. The closest we got was having gigs fall through (tho there was one which, if we'd played it, would have put us closer to a Blues Brothers experience). In our defense, at least all of our drummers survived 😅
I remember Christopher Guest saying in an interview that the writers of the movie thought that they had really skewered hard rockers, but then members of rock bands kept saying that they worshiped the movie and could absolutely relate to it. If fact, I've hear that Ozzy Osbourne was the only one in the theater not laughing because he thought it was a real band. I also remember reading that the members of some rock band (maybe Foghat?) said that the producers of the movie must have sneaked secret recording devices on to their tour bus because that's the only way that they could have gotten the details about the zodiac obsessed girlfriend so right.
If you have the DVD then you're in for a treat. The commentary track is the best ever. They are in character from moment you hit close on your player. Right from the DVD menu they are commenting and it's almost funnier than the movie. And these chaps are the real deal. They wrote all of the music, played all the music, and have done tours as Spinal Tap.
I saw them live on Canada Day 1992, where they did a one-day cross-country tour. They started in Halifax, NS, I saw them in Barrie, ON, then they went on to Vancouver, BC.
them being in charactor in the commentary was an excellent choice, not suprising they went with that, but made it so much more enjoyable than it wouldv been otherwise
This is Spinal Tap is basically a satire of all heavy metal rock bands of the 70s and 80s, Jen. Pretty much every gag is based on things that happened to real life rock bands.
The Stonehenge gag was possibly inspired by an actual incident that happened to Black Sabbath, where the stage designer mistakenly made a Stonehenge set for the band in meters instead of feet, and the Stonehenge set ended up being too big for the stage and towered over the band.
hmmm ... but wouldn't that just make it even more awesome? A metre is roughly the same as a yard, 10% longer ... so their Stonehenge would be at least three times bigger than planned!
@@jazzx251 From what I read, they could only get one out of three sections of it onto the stage and it forced all the band members up front, so eventually they abandoned it.
Sting told Rob Reiner He didn't know whether to Laugh or cry watching This Is Spinal Tap because it was all so true. The 4 80s movies Rob Reiner made that aren't just brilliant classic, but should be seen by everyone. "This Is Spinal Tap"(84), "Stand By Me"(86), "The Princess Bride"(87), "When Harry Met Sally"(89).
This movie came out when I was in college, playing in several bands, and we loved it instantly. I saw them in concert in D.C. on their 92/93 tour, 2nd row. It was perfect. The mimes were Billy Crystal & Dana Carvey.
Michael McKean (Lavern & Shirly), Christopher Guest (The Princess Bride), Harry Shearer (The Simpsons) make up the members of this *very real* band. It started off as a novelty band but it took off and became a real thing. I love all the Cameos in this film and *BIG Bottom* is my favorite of their songs.
I know it's still summer but you need to remember to listen to the Spinal Tap Christmas song "Christmas With The Devil" this winter. You will not be disappointed.
Christopher Guest carried on directing this mockumentary format with several films, including "Best in Show." His film "A Mighty Wind" from the early 2000s is similar in its documentary look at a folk music reunion concert. That's a really good one, especially musically. One of the original songs even earned an Oscar nom. Many of the same cast members appeared in that, including Guest and Michael McKean (again writing and performing their own original music).
The 3 actors spent 6 months working up a faux history of the band and the members. The interview portions were completely ad libbed improv. They didn't know what the questions were going to be and Rob Reiner didn't know how they would answer. The vast majority of the film was improv to give it a real feel.
Though there wasn't a script for dialogue, there was an outline for scenes to forward a general narrative. Quite a few takes were ruined because the actors kept cracking each other up with the improv 🤣
@@ReelReviewsWithJen "A might wind" is a folk music mockumentary with the spinal tap guys and the people from best in show. I have a feeling you would like it 😁
Achingly funny remember watching this at the cinema on release, just hilarious 'my numbers all go up to 11' and the row over the album cover, and 'he choked on somebody else's vomit' one of the greatest 'mockumentary' films ever made. So many rock bands at the the time, and still do, take themselves way too seriously, and being a musician myself and having been around guys like this, is it actually pretty accurate even though way over the top. A great choice Jen to react to, knew you would love this one.
Oh my god, what a reaction, and also what a great edit! You obviously know music history, from The Beatles on up, so this was a VERY fun and special reaction to this great movie. I saw it in the theatre when it came out. Musicians LOVE this movie. (I'm a musician). It's lore. Everyone can quote it, from beginning to end, chapter and verse. I actually have a 4-hour rough cut of the movie, which is hilarious, and it doesn't even have any of the interview sequences! Funny you mention Best In Show: that's who Spinal Tap is! The blonde guy, Michael McKean, he's in "Best In Show" and Nigel (Christopher Guest) is in Best In Show (and directed it!). Harry Shearer (countless voices on The Simpsons like Mr. Burns) is the third member. This movie is largely improvised (like Best In Show). Although most knew it was a fake band, Ozzy Osbourne reportedly did NOT know it was a fake band.....and took it as a serious documentary! lol. Yes, they wrote and performed all of these songs....and in most cases, those are actual live performances, not lip-synched. They opened for some band and filmed it, and told the audience what the deal was. They did the entire DVD commentary in character, and often have appeared on talk shows as Spinal Tap, and that goes on to the present day. If you search, you'll found countless interviews, often really funny. Nigel Tuffnel on National Geographic talking about Stonehenge, for instance! lol.
P.S. If you love The Beatles and this movie, the first "rock/mockumentary" was "The Rutles" (1978), which is from Monty Python's Eric Idle and was basically a Monty Python/SNL hybrid. That predates Spinal Tap and is also one that lots of musicians know. Brilliant and hilarious. And again, the more you know about the history, the more you get. And incredible, very funny Beatle-esque songs!
I dont remember the stories, can look up, but know the bass player went on the road undercover with legendary British Heavy Metal band Saxon posing as a journalist to research for his role, as can be seen if look up Saxon The Eagle Has Landed Live 1983. Can see Spinal Tap in opening scene & inspiration for his bass player character. I saw them that year at 12 yro open for Iron Maiden. At the time Saxon was bigger in UK, but Maiden bigger in States. That vid '80's Metal par-excellence!!! Cheeze & all! 🤘😎 ✌🌎❤
The Jack the Ripper "Saucy Jack" song is the same tune as the one from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." "You're a naughty one....Mr. Grinch.....You're a haughty one.....Mr. Grinch." Also, the two mimes are Billy Crystal and Dana Carvey. "Mime is money." This movie is amazing.
The Three main band members also appeared in A Mighty Wind, where they play as folk singers. The movie which is written and directed by Christopher Guest who plays Nigel In this movie. However when Michael Mckean who played Lenny on Laverne and Shirley. On the show Lenny and his roommate Squiggy on the show had a band called Lenny and the Squigtones. Guess who one of the guitarist is, Christopher Guest who is using his Spinal Tap character name years before Spinal Tap. Christopher Guest also played the 6 Fingered Man in Princess Bride.
I’m sure someone mentioned but “Nigel” is also in and wrote and directed Best In Show and he’s also The Six Fingered Man in The Princess Bride another Rob Reiner movie
the idea was that a lot of those late 70's and early 80s metal bands only became popular in those times, but they had other earlier bands before that, that they preferred to keep on the secret side, because they were doing other trends at the time
To promote the film, Spinal Tap performed a few live shows. The 3 actors dressed up in different costumes and performed as the opening band "The Folksmen" playing folk songs. No one in the audience noticed. That band eventually was used in the film "A Mighty Wind" 😲
The "getting lost backstage" was based on Tom Petty, who got so lost backstage at a gig in Germany, he ended up in an indoor tennis court. If you would like to see a spoof "rockumentary" 100% based on The Beatles, you may enjoy "The Rutles: All you need is cash" (1978), which actually predates "This is Spinal Tap" by a few years. It was written and stars Eric Idle of Monty Python fame, and has appearances from John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Gilda Radner & Bill Murray. George Harrison actually has a small part in the film. He and John Lennon loved the film, Ringo liked the happy parts and Paul McCartney hated it! The music is a brilliant spoof of Beatles songs, "Ouch" has to heard to be believed. The song "Get Up and Go" was such a great pastiche of "Get Back", that John warned them that the company that owned the copyright may sue them!
In the early 90s, Marshall made a custom face plate you could order for their heads where the numbers all went up to 11 (If you Google the phrase "these go to 11", you can find an image of the ad they ran for it)
I worked on the road throughout my 20’s as a guitar tech for a touring rock band, touring with lots of big name bands. You’d be surprised how much of the stuff in this movie that they make fun of is 100% accurate! All of this stuff actually happens to bands while touring.
Spinal Tap were based on a number of bands, primarily Status Quo and Uriah Heep but there are plenty of others. I've always figured "Big Bottom" to be more inspired by Status Quo's "Big Fat Mama" than by Queen's "Fat Bottom Girls."
If you noted the name Paul Shaffer in the cast, he was known for leading the in-house bands on Saturday Night Live, as well as being David Letterman's musical sidekick.
The soundtrack album to this movie has a totally black cover. The movie is improvised with the movie edited down from around 3 hours of shot footage. The actors played and wrote their own material. Funny you should mention Best In Show since that was also a lot of the same people that brought you this, with Cristopher Guest (Nigel) directing, also A Mighty Wind and Waiting For Guffman.
Well, you'd have to define improvised. The actual performers created the story, and they'd had history with the characters. I'm not saying it isn't fantastic, but it's not like some random comedic actors were hired on, script-less, and asked to be funny.
These actually are the guys who made Best in Show. It may be the best indication of what a good job they did that reactors take this as British humor when the actors are all American, and mostly from 70's TV. Rob Reiner was on the classic show All in the Family. This was his first movie as a director. I think Stand by Me was his second. The singer was on the show Laverne and Shirley. Christopher Guest would join Saturday Night Live the next year, with his best character being a recurring skit he did with Billy Crystal. The bass player is about a third of the characters on the Simpson, including both Mr Burns and Smithers (also Ned Flanders). Spinal Tap was very popular with heavy metal bands. The channel VH1 did a best hard rock bands as chosen by musicians from those bands, and Spinal Tap, despite being a fake band, made the list at 75. And Metallica would later put out a black album that may have been partly a tribute to Spinal Tap. More than one band claimed to think they were the main inspiration. But if there was one band that inspired them I think it was Deep Purple. Deep Purple's first hit, from 1968 was Hush, which is not that far from Listen to the Flower Children in style. But after bombing with a classical album they become a hard rock band with the classic hit "Smoke on the Water". They reformed as a more straightforward heavy metal band around the time this movie came out with "Perfect Strangers". Deep Purple's guitarist Richie Blackmore has been in bands continuously since 1968 (he formed Rainbow after a falling out with the remaining members and then rejoined Deep Purple around when this movie came out) and at the point this movie came out he had played with 25 other band members, so the turnover here is only a slight exaggeration. Also when this movie came out hair metal wasn't a thing yet, and Guns and Roses didn't exist. This is more of a satire of heavy metal of the 70s.
When this developed a cult following (especially among musicians) Marshall started making amplifiers that went to 11 and later 20. They got Christopher "Nigel" Guest to do the ads.
A lot of these antics do happen on many band's tours and are not exaggerated though the actors do personify their actions and reactions occasionally. Stonehenge reduced to pi.
I saw the film in 84 and been a fan ever since. Ive seen them in concert twice in 90’s during Break like the Wind Tour, yes they did Stonehenge and almost had full size Stonehenge being lowered onto stage, but the winch got stuck half way down with 1/4 ofthe monument hanging.. enter the 18 inch substitute..lol. And yes i witnessed a drummer explode and be replaced during the show. The boys also played as an widdle aged folks band as the opening act, which i think preceded the film. “A mighty Wind by a decade. And if you search for vinyl from 1978-79 Lenny & The Squigtones michael mckean did during Tv series Laverne & Shirley, the band on back of album has listed nigel tufnel aka Christopher Guest on it.
You asked what "real musicians" thought about the movie. There's a telling quote from Paul Stanley's autobiography. (He's the Starchild from Kiss, if you don't know.) In 1981, Kiss released a concept album called "Music from 'The Elder'." It was universally despised, and Paul Stanley piled on. In his book he writes, "For a band like ours to be doing something like "Music from 'The Elder'" truly reeked of the little Stonehenge coming down on the stage during "This is Spinal Tap." If only we had realized." Love Kiss or not, they are a band who ought to identify well with Spinal Tap! They have had to change with the times - hard rock, disco, punk, grunge-and they've changed their image and gone back more than once. Also, I was around when this movie came out. As part of the promotional push to get folks excited for the movie, Spinal Tap was booked one week to be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The part that makes this interesting? No one let on that they were a fictional band, meant to be a satire. They were presented as if they were the real deal. You were either in on the joke or not-and MANY were not! (Remember, this was long before the internet and social media would have given it away.) I was a sophomore in high school, and I'll never forget going to art class the following Monday and hearing some of the stoners debate how this new band weren't really that good - except, yeah, actually they sort of were awesome. They had no idea. I'll never forget that!
The sequel is actually slated for sometime in the next year. In the meantime, if you want your mind blown, find Lenny and the Squigtones appearing on American Bandstand in 1979. It's on CZcams. For something in a similar vein, there was a British TV show in the 80s called The Comic Strip Live, and they did a couple of mockumentary-style shows about a made up band called Bad News. Another great, but largely forgotten rock n' roll movie from the 70s is Roadie; Meat Loaf plays a junk dealer who can make anything work using bobby pins and chewing gum and becomes a miracle worker for The Rock n' Roll Circus.
It parodies real events by bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, and The Who. Every musician who has played enough gigs has had at least 1 Spinal Tap moment.
This is a wormhole! Christopher Guest went on to direct a whole bunch of films in a similar vein: Waiting for Guffman (amateur theater), Best in Show, which you know, A Mighty Wind (folk music: Guest, McKean and Shearer reunite as The Folksmen, who were actually "the support band" for Spinal Tap. Audiences often booed them offstage, not knowing they were Tap in disguise), For Your Consideration (Hollywood) and Mascots (er, Mascots. A spin-off of Waiting for Guffman). "The Return of Spinal Tap" is a filmed concert in London, interspersed with interviews in character. Definitely has funny moments. The Tap DVDs are magical: great in-character commentary (most common phrase: "he's dead". "she's dead"), even the menus have great commentary, the wonderful trailers (check out Spinal Tap Cheese Rolling here on CZcams) and a list of deleted scenes, longer than the movie itself, and just as good, if not better. And yes, Billy Crystal, along with Dana Carvey, are the mimes, and Angelica Huston designed Stonehenge.
These same people also do a "fake" folk band (called "The Folksmen"). They were in Christopher Guest's mockumenary "A Mighty Wind". Also, while Spinal Tap was on tour, they opened for themselves as The Folksmen. The audience of metal fans didn't realize they were the same guys and almost rioted.
Fact: D-minor really is the saddest of chords, which is something that musicians know, and a great example of the deep in-jokes in this movie. (E-minor is the evil-est of chords, but that's another topic!)
Look for Christopher Guest as a director, as he directs Best in Show, Looking for Guffman, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. Rob Reiner also directed The Princess Bride where Christopher Guest plays the Six Fingered Man. The whole group does a lot of stuff together.
The Scorpions released the album 'Virgin killer' in 1976, and had to re-release it with a different cover in most markets. Today possesion of the original cover is considered 'Possession of child pornography' in several jurisdictions.
Not included in the movie: the song ''Bitch school'' but the whole video is on YT and the lyrics are hilariously un-PC. ''The return of Spinal Tap'' (1992) is worth a viewing too. Other great Rock movies to react to: The Rutles (1977) + Still crazy (1998.)
Hello, this was partially inspired by an incident where Black Sabbath brought a Stonehenge replica on tour in the U.S. and it was too LARGE for many of the facilities they played. Sorry for being ten moths late!
There is actually a rap/hip hop parody film of this movie called Fear Of A Black Hat (1993). Since they don't have a drummer they lose their managers to...mysterious circumstances. Made for about $1 million box office $255,000.
This is basically Christopher Guest's ("Nigel") 1st movie even though Rob Reiner directed. If dont know Guest is Jamie Lee Curtis' husband for 3 or 4 decades. He was on SNL when 1st changed cast in early '80's-Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Billy Crystal years. The genius behind his flicks is that he comes up with premise then gets his top improv buddies to ad-lib scenes. If know that, his movies are amazing! I personally didn't care for "Waiting On Guffman" & would save for maybe last of his, but he uses many of same casts, more that you'd know. He did Folk version of Spinal Tap with same cast/band doing Folk, & his best must-see imo (besides this🤘😎) called "Best In Show" about the "Superbowl of Dog Shows." I've only seen one reactor watch it but she thought it was scripted so didnt enjoy at as much. Id never thought about it not being so hilarious if thought it was scripted?😅 Improv at its finest!!! See ya! ✌🌎❤
@@rebeccabailey527 Nice to know, friend! Thank You!🙏❤️ Oh, a lil Spinal Tap trivia for ya if don't know? The bass player Harry S.'s character was based on Saxon/bass player. Don't remember what others did, but he posed as a journalist & hit the road. And you can see for yourself the real Spinal Tap if look up Saxon The Eagle Has Landed Live '83. I actually caught that tour at 12 yro😅 opening for Iron Maiden & Harry may have been backstage???😅 Singer shook my hand & I almost died so forced to the back, then a biker ("Motorcyle Man") saw me, put me on his shoulders, & walked me right back up front for whole show!😅 Good Times!🤘😎 Anyway, if watch that, shows "Spinal Tap" in introduction! ...Oh, & I also had a chance to see Spinal Tap around 2000 outside Nashville for TEN DOLLARS!!! Had just got back in town, didn't have a ride, & I couldn't talk anybody into taking to us to it, all on me, IN NASHVILLE!!!🙄 Well, see I already told that story!😅 Well, there it goes again! ✌️😎
This film is legendary among touring musicians large and small. There's not a band in existence that doesn't love this movie because it's a far more realistic picture of touring life than most people imagine.
When they toured in the 1990's, I saw them perform at Great Woods (Mansfield, MA) and the opening act was a local band (Big Nazo Band) that had huge paper mache foam puppet heads .. and after Spinal Tap played a few songs, David said, "Finally, a puppet show is opening FOR US!"
They say many bands specifically forbid their crew members to watch this movie while travelling on tour busses. (Too close to the truth ! ) 🙂 Still, every musician on earth seems to love this movie, from Trent Reznor to the Pet Shop Boys...
Brace yourself.. next year Rob Reiner will be back with the original cast in Spinal Tap 2 (2024), apparently breaking the record for longest gap between sequels
oh you saw best in show? the guy with the amp that goes to 11, he wins the dog show with his bloodhound, hes also the director of best in show. (hes also the 6 fingered man in princess bride..his fingers go to 11) all these actors stick together in spinal tap all the way thru the christopher guest mockumentaries which he as like 5 or so
Rob Reiner is the son of celebrated comic writer/actor/director Carl Reiner. Rob became well-known as the liberal son-in-law on the 1970s tv sitcom "All in the Family". Here, in this movie, he plays Marti diBergi, the interviewer. In addition to "Stand By Me", he directed "The Princess Bride" and several other movies. Reading all the end credits will show that all the main characters had a hand in the writing of the story and also of the songs. A big percentage of the script was improvised. Angelica Huston was the sculptor of the Stone Henge monument. Yep, that was Fran Drescher. Billy Crystal was the head of the mime waiters who scolded Dana Carvey by saying "Mime is money". There were a lot of well-known faces here playing small roles: Patrick MacNee was Sir Denis: my generation loved him as the central character in a BBC import spy series, "The Avengers" - not a Marvel creation, but an often-satiric spy series. MacNee played John Steed, a staid and gently charming old-style gentleman partnered by a series of women. The most well-known of these was Diana Rigg as Emma Peel (who you probably know as Lady Olenna from "Game of Thrones"), but there was, before her, Honor Blackman (a James Bond lady) and Linda Thorson, who was not too far off my age when I watched her, and who I liked. Here's a clip of the opening credits from the Diana Rigg era, so you can get a sample of the style: czcams.com/video/AgEqMsfDGnQ/video.html (these ladies, but especially Rigg, were proto-Buffy and Ripley: strong, feminine, assured, self-sufficient but happy to be partnered with a class act like Mr. Steed. Rigg was a role model for me as a short, near-sighted, excitable Brooklyn girl: something to aspire to. I haven't made it there, but we try!). Howard Hesseman was the rock star in the hotel who attracted the attention that Tap didn't. At this time, he was beloved by many as a main character in "WKRP in Cincinnati", a character-based sitcom about a failing radio station. Hesseman was Johnny Fever, one of the announcers: czcams.com/video/vEuriu9Xdmo/video.html (a very good show, hard to get in rotation anywhere because they used authentic music which requires a fortune in permissions). Paul Shaffer, who was the hapless record promoter Artie Fuffkin, was a very successful and well-known late-night band leader for David Letterman. Bruno Kirby, the chauffeur who was reading Sammy Davis, Jr.'s autobiography and who stated that Tap was a fad, was one of those supporting actors who turned up in many places and was always wonderful to watch. Possibly he's most noted in a minor role in "The Godfather II" as Robert deNiro's partner. And there were many others.
I did see this shortly when it first came out. I was at University and we saw it in the student union hall. I didn't know anything about it and it took me a few minutes into the film before I realized it was a "Mockumentary". Nobody had spoiled it for me and some of the others I was with were also unaware. The band ended up actually doing some tours / shows in character, (yes, they play the instruments and write the music). They released a couple of albums that I owned on cassette at the time, and apparently there is a follow-up film in the works currently. The stories were inspired by actual band stories as told by the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Black Sabbath, KISS, and countless others all rolled into one long-lived band. Another movie in this style, dealing with Folk Music, is titled A Mighty Wind (2003).
Since you requested suggestions: "Alien," "Aliens," "Annie Hall," "Body Heat," "Contact," "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951 NOT the 2008 remake), "Deja Vu," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Forbidden Planet," "Frequency," "Gandhi," "Ghost," "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," "Good Will Hunting," "The Green Mile," "Highlander," "It Happened One Night," "Little Big Man," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "The Matrix," "Miracle on 34th Street (1947 NOT the remake)," "Mississippi Burning," "Once Upon a Time in the West," "The Pink Panther," "The Right Stuff," "Rio Bravo," "Some Like it Hot," "Stalag 17," "The Thing," "The Time Machine (1960 version)," "Topper," "2001: A Space Odyssey (hard to understand without reading the book)," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Zodiac"
In "The Princess Bride", Christopher Guest's character's fingers went to eleven.
I maintain to this day that The New Originals is actually a great name.
The Original Originals
Had catchier tunes
I always preferred The New Seekers to The Seekers.
And Metallica stole the Black album idea?
@@teanosugerLars hated the comparison when the Black Album came out. He was livid when journalists brought it up.
I actually liked Shark Sandwich. The Indonesia folk music influence especially.
The actors actually wrote the lyrics and played their own instruments throughout the movie. They even released a CD called Break Like The Wind which is actually not bad and well worth a listen.
They've toured as well & played a killer set at Glastonbury.
I had that cd wish I still did.
They actually released three albums over the years plus other assorted tracks.
The absolute cackle at just the mention of "Smell The Glove" let me know this film was about to be truly appreciated.
buffy 5x03 "most magic shop owners in Sunnydale have the life expectancy of a Spinal Tap drummer"
That's oddly true.
Yes I remember that quote, and found it really funny getting the reference, great to sneak that one into The Buffyverse.
Whoa...you know way too much detail about Buffy. You probably even know the song Zap City by The Cult...a band a bit like Spinal Tap with the way they got through their drummers!
Spinal Tap put out a new album in the 90s "Break Like the Wind" and went on tour. Mid tour, the drummer they hired fell down a short flight of stairs and broke his leg. When asked about it he said "I consider myself lucky" 😀🤣🤣
I saw them on that tour in Indianapolis, IN.
And Back from the Dead around 2000.
Angelica Houston produced the Stonehenge mini-lith.
Oh nice!
As for how actual real musicians feel about it the late David Crosby summed it up best: " Every band I've been on tour with has a copy of Spinal Tap on their tour bus. It's required viewing for those long hours on the road"
Weird, because Lenny Kravitz banned it from his tour bus for how acurate it was.
A musician at the time said that he was laughing and crying over the film because it was so funny AND so accurate 😲
I was in the music biz in the early 90s and I can say, from my own experience, this has a lot of truth to it.
@@rodentnolastname6612 I second that. Played in some bands myself in the 90s and 2000s, and there is way more "truth" in this movie than you really like to admit. On the other hand, that makes this movie a classic for every single musician I know. Plus everyone can come up with similar stories from his own experience... :D
It is way easier than you might think to get lost in backstage areas
I was in bands in the 90s & 2000s too but none of them made it far enough to have any of these types of experiences. The closest we got was having gigs fall through (tho there was one which, if we'd played it, would have put us closer to a Blues Brothers experience). In our defense, at least all of our drummers survived 😅
Yes, This is Spinal Tap was directed by the same Rob Reiner that directed Stand By Me, Jen! 🙂This movie was his directorial debut.
Amazing!
@@ReelReviewsWithJen You should check out other Rob Reiner movies including When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, and The Princess Bride.
I remember Christopher Guest saying in an interview that the writers of the movie thought that they had really skewered hard rockers, but then members of rock bands kept saying that they worshiped the movie and could absolutely relate to it. If fact, I've hear that Ozzy Osbourne was the only one in the theater not laughing because he thought it was a real band. I also remember reading that the members of some rock band (maybe Foghat?) said that the producers of the movie must have sneaked secret recording devices on to their tour bus because that's the only way that they could have gotten the details about the zodiac obsessed girlfriend so right.
The mimes were Billy Crystal and Dana Carvey!
Amazing!
If you have the DVD then you're in for a treat. The commentary track is the best ever. They are in character from moment you hit close on your player. Right from the DVD menu they are commenting and it's almost funnier than the movie.
And these chaps are the real deal. They wrote all of the music, played all the music, and have done tours as Spinal Tap.
I saw them live on Canada Day 1992, where they did a one-day cross-country tour. They started in Halifax, NS, I saw them in Barrie, ON, then they went on to Vancouver, BC.
Every part is so good, watching Scene selection made me laugh.
@@reesebn38 Why would I want to watch it if I've already seen it?
@@John_Locke_108 🤣
them being in charactor in the commentary was an excellent choice, not suprising they went with that, but made it so much more enjoyable than it wouldv been otherwise
This is Spinal Tap is basically a satire of all heavy metal rock bands of the 70s and 80s, Jen. Pretty much every gag is based on things that happened to real life rock bands.
Agreed 😊
Alan White of Yes was stuck in a huge clam shell prop for at least one song, about to pass out while drumming his butt off.
Fortunately not all to any one band
The Stonehenge gag was possibly inspired by an actual incident that happened to Black Sabbath, where the stage designer mistakenly made a Stonehenge set for the band in meters instead of feet, and the Stonehenge set ended up being too big for the stage and towered over the band.
hmmm ... but wouldn't that just make it even more awesome?
A metre is roughly the same as a yard, 10% longer ... so their Stonehenge would be at least three times bigger than planned!
A 15 foot Stonehenge would be 45 feet onstage. @@jazzx251
@@jazzx251 From what I read, they could only get one out of three sections of it onto the stage and it forced all the band members up front, so eventually they abandoned it.
There wasn't just a soundtrack, there were albums released later, even a funk version of "Sex Farm". I saw them on their Unplugged and Unwigged tour.
Jen, your reaction goes to eleven!
Sting told Rob Reiner He didn't know whether to Laugh or cry watching This Is Spinal Tap because it was all so true. The 4 80s movies Rob Reiner made that aren't just brilliant classic, but should be seen by everyone. "This Is Spinal Tap"(84), "Stand By Me"(86), "The Princess Bride"(87), "When Harry Met Sally"(89).
I would extend that to include Christopher Guest's movies, such as "A Mighty Wind", "Best in Show", "Waiting for Guffman", etc.
@@kinokind293 The man is a Genius!
I enjoyed The Sure Thing also
Oh ya that is a good one too.@@pathatfield2543
This movie came out when I was in college, playing in several bands, and we loved it instantly. I saw them in concert in D.C. on their 92/93 tour, 2nd row. It was perfect. The mimes were Billy Crystal & Dana Carvey.
Michael McKean (Lavern & Shirly), Christopher Guest (The Princess Bride), Harry Shearer (The Simpsons) make up the members of this *very real* band.
It started off as a novelty band but it took off and became a real thing.
I love all the Cameos in this film and *BIG Bottom* is my favorite of their songs.
Very early in Dana Carvey's career and he has no lines, but fun seeing him
I’d recommend Waiting for Guffman. It’s my favorite one.
My fav line... "Especially one that dresses like... and Australian's nightmare!"
If you want more of this movie, you should watch it with the commentary on. They do it in character as if the movie actually happened.
I know it's still summer but you need to remember to listen to the Spinal Tap Christmas song "Christmas With The Devil" this winter. You will not be disappointed.
You remembered correctly about Christopher Guest being married to Jamie Lee Curtis.
Christopher Guest carried on directing this mockumentary format with several films, including "Best in Show." His film "A Mighty Wind" from the early 2000s is similar in its documentary look at a folk music reunion concert. That's a really good one, especially musically. One of the original songs even earned an Oscar nom. Many of the same cast members appeared in that, including Guest and Michael McKean (again writing and performing their own original music).
The 3 actors spent 6 months working up a faux history of the band and the members. The interview portions were completely ad libbed improv. They didn't know what the questions were going to be and Rob Reiner didn't know how they would answer.
The vast majority of the film was improv to give it a real feel.
Though there wasn't a script for dialogue, there was an outline for scenes to forward a general narrative.
Quite a few takes were ruined because the actors kept cracking each other up with the improv 🤣
The DVD commentary is hilarious as they make fun of the movie in character!!!
The running joke of "turn it up to 11" came from this movie.
☹You cut the haberdashery joke....
May have needed to.... what are the hours?
There were so many jokes! Would have loved to keep them all
@@ReelReviewsWithJen "A might wind" is a folk music mockumentary with the spinal tap guys and the people from best in show. I have a feeling you would like it 😁
Achingly funny remember watching this at the cinema on release, just hilarious 'my numbers all go up to 11' and the row over the album cover, and 'he choked on somebody else's vomit' one of the greatest 'mockumentary' films ever made. So many rock bands at the the time, and still do, take themselves way too seriously, and being a musician myself and having been around guys like this, is it actually pretty accurate even though way over the top. A great choice Jen to react to, knew you would love this one.
Fred Willard's "Best in Show" performance was his "Sistine chapel ceiling."
Oh my god, what a reaction, and also what a great edit! You obviously know music history, from The Beatles on up, so this was a VERY fun and special reaction to this great movie. I saw it in the theatre when it came out. Musicians LOVE this movie. (I'm a musician). It's lore. Everyone can quote it, from beginning to end, chapter and verse. I actually have a 4-hour rough cut of the movie, which is hilarious, and it doesn't even have any of the interview sequences! Funny you mention Best In Show: that's who Spinal Tap is! The blonde guy, Michael McKean, he's in "Best In Show" and Nigel (Christopher Guest) is in Best In Show (and directed it!). Harry Shearer (countless voices on The Simpsons like Mr. Burns) is the third member. This movie is largely improvised (like Best In Show). Although most knew it was a fake band, Ozzy Osbourne reportedly did NOT know it was a fake band.....and took it as a serious documentary! lol. Yes, they wrote and performed all of these songs....and in most cases, those are actual live performances, not lip-synched. They opened for some band and filmed it, and told the audience what the deal was. They did the entire DVD commentary in character, and often have appeared on talk shows as Spinal Tap, and that goes on to the present day. If you search, you'll found countless interviews, often really funny. Nigel Tuffnel on National Geographic talking about Stonehenge, for instance! lol.
P.S. If you love The Beatles and this movie, the first "rock/mockumentary" was "The Rutles" (1978), which is from Monty Python's Eric Idle and was basically a Monty Python/SNL hybrid. That predates Spinal Tap and is also one that lots of musicians know. Brilliant and hilarious. And again, the more you know about the history, the more you get. And incredible, very funny Beatle-esque songs!
I dont remember the stories, can look up, but know the bass player went on the road undercover with legendary British Heavy Metal band Saxon posing as a journalist to research for his role, as can be seen if look up Saxon The Eagle Has Landed Live 1983. Can see Spinal Tap in opening scene & inspiration for his bass player character. I saw them that year at 12 yro open for Iron Maiden. At the time Saxon was bigger in UK, but Maiden bigger in States. That vid '80's Metal par-excellence!!! Cheeze & all!
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Such a fine line between stupid and clever.
The Jack the Ripper "Saucy Jack" song is the same tune as the one from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
"You're a naughty one....Mr. Grinch.....You're a haughty one.....Mr. Grinch."
Also, the two mimes are Billy Crystal and Dana Carvey. "Mime is money."
This movie is amazing.
The Three main band members also appeared in A Mighty Wind, where they play as folk singers. The movie which is written and directed by Christopher Guest who plays Nigel In this movie.
However when Michael Mckean who played Lenny on Laverne and Shirley.
On the show Lenny and his roommate Squiggy on the show had a band called Lenny and the Squigtones. Guess who one of the guitarist is, Christopher Guest who is using his Spinal Tap character name years before Spinal Tap.
Christopher Guest also played the 6 Fingered Man in Princess Bride.
I’m sure someone mentioned but “Nigel” is also in and wrote and directed Best In Show and he’s also The Six Fingered Man in The Princess Bride another Rob Reiner movie
the idea was that a lot of those late 70's and early 80s metal bands only became popular in those times, but they had other earlier bands before that, that they preferred to keep on the secret side, because they were doing other trends at the time
To promote the film, Spinal Tap performed a few live shows. The 3 actors dressed up in different costumes and performed as the opening band "The Folksmen" playing folk songs. No one in the audience noticed. That band eventually was used in the film "A Mighty Wind" 😲
The "getting lost backstage" was based on Tom Petty, who got so lost backstage at a gig in Germany, he ended up in an indoor tennis court.
If you would like to see a spoof "rockumentary" 100% based on The Beatles, you may enjoy "The Rutles: All you need is cash" (1978), which actually predates "This is Spinal Tap" by a few years. It was written and stars Eric Idle of Monty Python fame, and has appearances from John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Gilda Radner & Bill Murray. George Harrison actually has a small part in the film.
He and John Lennon loved the film, Ringo liked the happy parts and Paul McCartney hated it! The music is a brilliant spoof of Beatles songs, "Ouch" has to heard to be believed. The song "Get Up and Go" was such a great pastiche of "Get Back", that John warned them that the company that owned the copyright may sue them!
MCCartney is a humourless git.
Yes - we need Rutles reactions
In the early 90s, Marshall made a custom face plate you could order for their heads where the numbers all went up to 11 (If you Google the phrase "these go to 11", you can find an image of the ad they ran for it)
I worked on the road throughout my 20’s as a guitar tech for a touring rock band, touring with lots of big name bands. You’d be surprised how much of the stuff in this movie that they make fun of is 100% accurate! All of this stuff actually happens to bands while touring.
The band Anvil
Is a real life spinal tap
Spinal Tap were based on a number of bands, primarily Status Quo and Uriah Heep but there are plenty of others. I've always figured "Big Bottom" to be more inspired by Status Quo's "Big Fat Mama" than by Queen's "Fat Bottom Girls."
If you noted the name Paul Shaffer in the cast, he was known for leading the in-house bands on Saturday Night Live, as well as being David Letterman's musical sidekick.
Fun fact: from their founding through today, there have been 24 members of The Temptations. (just saw "Ain't Too Proud" last weekend) 😂
The Black album cover they got for Smell the Glove actually inspired Metallica's Black album
Oh interesting! Thanks for watching!
Still can't quite meet the full reaction monthly tier, but thanks for keeping up the great selection!
The soundtrack album to this movie has a totally black cover.
The movie is improvised with the movie edited down from around 3 hours of shot footage.
The actors played and wrote their own material.
Funny you should mention Best In Show since that was also a lot of the same people that brought you this, with Cristopher Guest (Nigel) directing, also A Mighty Wind and Waiting For Guffman.
Can you believe the dialogue was almost completely improvised? Brilliant! And yes, same Rob Reiner. Have you seen his movie Princess Bride?
That’s incredible!
Well, you'd have to define improvised. The actual performers created the story, and they'd had history with the characters. I'm not saying it isn't fantastic, but it's not like some random comedic actors were hired on, script-less, and asked to be funny.
Despite the lyrics being a little silly, I think Stonehenge is a legit awesome song, and I listen to it pretty often.
Some of the songs are super catchy!
These actually are the guys who made Best in Show. It may be the best indication of what a good job they did that reactors take this as British humor when the actors are all American, and mostly from 70's TV. Rob Reiner was on the classic show All in the Family. This was his first movie as a director. I think Stand by Me was his second. The singer was on the show Laverne and Shirley. Christopher Guest would join Saturday Night Live the next year, with his best character being a recurring skit he did with Billy Crystal. The bass player is about a third of the characters on the Simpson, including both Mr Burns and Smithers (also Ned Flanders).
Spinal Tap was very popular with heavy metal bands. The channel VH1 did a best hard rock bands as chosen by musicians from those bands, and Spinal Tap, despite being a fake band, made the list at 75. And Metallica would later put out a black album that may have been partly a tribute to Spinal Tap.
More than one band claimed to think they were the main inspiration. But if there was one band that inspired them I think it was Deep Purple. Deep Purple's first hit, from 1968 was Hush, which is not that far from Listen to the Flower Children in style. But after bombing with a classical album they become a hard rock band with the classic hit "Smoke on the Water". They reformed as a more straightforward heavy metal band around the time this movie came out with "Perfect Strangers". Deep Purple's guitarist Richie Blackmore has been in bands continuously since 1968 (he formed Rainbow after a falling out with the remaining members and then rejoined Deep Purple around when this movie came out) and at the point this movie came out he had played with 25 other band members, so the turnover here is only a slight exaggeration.
Also when this movie came out hair metal wasn't a thing yet, and Guns and Roses didn't exist. This is more of a satire of heavy metal of the 70s.
Supposedly Ozzy Osborne thought it was a real rockumentary about a real band.
When this developed a cult following (especially among musicians) Marshall started making amplifiers that went to 11 and later 20. They got Christopher "Nigel" Guest to do the ads.
A lot of these antics do happen on many band's tours and are not exaggerated though the actors do personify their actions and reactions occasionally.
Stonehenge reduced to pi.
Christopher Guest met his wife after she saw the film and after nearly 40 years he and Jamie Lee Curtis are still married. He should be so lucky
i love finding people who just find this
When Ozzy Osbourne saw this, he thought it was real, so close it was to his experience with Black Sabbath!
I saw the film in 84 and been a fan ever since. Ive seen them in concert twice in 90’s during Break like the Wind Tour, yes they did Stonehenge and almost had full size Stonehenge being lowered onto stage, but the winch got stuck half way down with 1/4 ofthe monument hanging.. enter the 18 inch substitute..lol. And yes i witnessed a drummer explode and be replaced during the show. The boys also played as an widdle aged folks band as the opening act, which i think preceded the film. “A mighty Wind by a decade. And if you search for vinyl from 1978-79 Lenny & The Squigtones michael mckean did during Tv series Laverne & Shirley, the band on back of album has listed nigel tufnel aka Christopher Guest on it.
You asked what "real musicians" thought about the movie. There's a telling quote from Paul Stanley's autobiography. (He's the Starchild from Kiss, if you don't know.) In 1981, Kiss released a concept album called "Music from 'The Elder'." It was universally despised, and Paul Stanley piled on. In his book he writes, "For a band like ours to be doing something like "Music from 'The Elder'" truly reeked of the little Stonehenge coming down on the stage during "This is Spinal Tap." If only we had realized." Love Kiss or not, they are a band who ought to identify well with Spinal Tap! They have had to change with the times - hard rock, disco, punk, grunge-and they've changed their image and gone back more than once.
Also, I was around when this movie came out. As part of the promotional push to get folks excited for the movie, Spinal Tap was booked one week to be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The part that makes this interesting? No one let on that they were a fictional band, meant to be a satire. They were presented as if they were the real deal. You were either in on the joke or not-and MANY were not! (Remember, this was long before the internet and social media would have given it away.) I was a sophomore in high school, and I'll never forget going to art class the following Monday and hearing some of the stoners debate how this new band weren't really that good - except, yeah, actually they sort of were awesome. They had no idea. I'll never forget that!
Jen, I can't believe you didn't recognize Billy Crystal. He was one of the mimes.
And the other one was Dana Carvey
I know! I’m devastated I missed it!
The sequel is actually slated for sometime in the next year.
In the meantime, if you want your mind blown, find Lenny and the Squigtones appearing on American Bandstand in 1979. It's on CZcams.
For something in a similar vein, there was a British TV show in the 80s called The Comic Strip Live, and they did a couple of mockumentary-style shows about a made up band called Bad News.
Another great, but largely forgotten rock n' roll movie from the 70s is Roadie; Meat Loaf plays a junk dealer who can make anything work using bobby pins and chewing gum and becomes a miracle worker for The Rock n' Roll Circus.
Wasnt clear if you got it, but "turn it to 11" etc. come from this film
It parodies real events by bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, and The Who. Every musician who has played enough gigs has had at least 1 Spinal Tap moment.
Since you mentioned it both guitar players were in Best In Show.
Another film Christopher Guest wrote and directed.
Spinal tap came up with the idea of a black album before metallica
This is a wormhole! Christopher Guest went on to direct a whole bunch of films in a similar vein: Waiting for Guffman (amateur theater), Best in Show, which you know, A Mighty Wind (folk music: Guest, McKean and Shearer reunite as The Folksmen, who were actually "the support band" for Spinal Tap. Audiences often booed them offstage, not knowing they were Tap in disguise), For Your Consideration (Hollywood) and Mascots (er, Mascots. A spin-off of Waiting for Guffman). "The Return of Spinal Tap" is a filmed concert in London, interspersed with interviews in character. Definitely has funny moments. The Tap DVDs are magical: great in-character commentary (most common phrase: "he's dead". "she's dead"), even the menus have great commentary, the wonderful trailers (check out Spinal Tap Cheese Rolling here on CZcams) and a list of deleted scenes, longer than the movie itself, and just as good, if not better. And yes, Billy Crystal, along with Dana Carvey, are the mimes, and Angelica Huston designed Stonehenge.
These same people also do a "fake" folk band (called "The Folksmen"). They were in Christopher Guest's mockumenary "A Mighty Wind". Also, while Spinal Tap was on tour, they opened for themselves as The Folksmen. The audience of metal fans didn't realize they were the same guys and almost rioted.
Fact: D-minor really is the saddest of chords, which is something that musicians know, and a great example of the deep in-jokes in this movie. (E-minor is the evil-est of chords, but that's another topic!)
Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind are hilarious Christopher Guest films❤
Look for Christopher Guest as a director, as he directs Best in Show, Looking for Guffman, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. Rob Reiner also directed The Princess Bride where Christopher Guest plays the Six Fingered Man. The whole group does a lot of stuff together.
That’s awesome I had no idea they worked together so much! I definitely need to rewatch the Princess Bride.
19:10 "An Australian's nightmare"... see Olivia Newton John's wardrobe in the early '80s
The actual vinyl album soundtrack to the movie was just a back cover.
I actually thought that this was a real documentary when I saw it back in the day. Then someone told me that it was a mockumentary
Thank you !
More movie reviews on CZcams !
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Rob Reiner was the “rockumentary” director Marty DiBergi. He was spoofing director Martin Scorsese.
The film did have some subtle jokes. Some of the drummers were named after members of the Three Stooges that replaced Curly Howard.
The Scorpions released the album 'Virgin killer' in 1976, and had to re-release it with a different cover in most markets.
Today possesion of the original cover is considered 'Possession of child pornography' in several jurisdictions.
You have to follow this up with the unofficial sequel: "A Mighty Wind."
Not included in the movie: the song ''Bitch school'' but the whole video is on YT and the lyrics are hilariously un-PC. ''The return of Spinal Tap'' (1992) is worth a viewing too. Other great Rock movies to react to: The Rutles (1977) + Still crazy (1998.)
Christopher Guest ... Nigel ... directed Best in Show, and played the red headed dog owner Harlan Pepper.
Hello, this was partially inspired by an incident where Black Sabbath brought a Stonehenge replica on tour in the U.S. and it was too LARGE for many of the facilities they played. Sorry for being ten moths late!
There is actually a rap/hip hop parody film of this movie called Fear Of A Black Hat (1993).
Since they don't have a drummer they lose their managers to...mysterious circumstances.
Made for about $1 million box office $255,000.
Great movie.I’m sorry I forgot to mention it.Also,what about CB4?
This is basically Christopher Guest's ("Nigel") 1st movie even though Rob Reiner directed. If dont know Guest is Jamie Lee Curtis' husband for 3 or 4 decades. He was on SNL when 1st changed cast in early '80's-Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Billy Crystal years. The genius behind his flicks is that he comes up with premise then gets his top improv buddies to ad-lib scenes. If know that, his movies are amazing! I personally didn't care for "Waiting On Guffman" & would save for maybe last of his, but he uses many of same casts, more that you'd know. He did Folk version of Spinal Tap with same cast/band doing Folk, & his best must-see imo (besides this🤘😎) called "Best In Show" about the "Superbowl of Dog Shows." I've only seen one reactor watch it but she thought it was scripted so didnt enjoy at as much. Id never thought about it not being so hilarious if thought it was scripted?😅
Improv at its finest!!!
See ya!
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Christopher Guest played a policeman in Charles Bronson’s DEATHWISH
He and his brother were in the long riders, which was before this.
@@rebeccabailey527 Nice to know, friend! Thank You!🙏❤️
Oh, a lil Spinal Tap trivia for ya if don't know? The bass player Harry S.'s character was based on Saxon/bass player. Don't remember what others did, but he posed as a journalist & hit the road. And you can see for yourself the real Spinal Tap if look up Saxon The Eagle Has Landed Live '83. I actually caught that tour at 12 yro😅 opening for Iron Maiden & Harry may have been backstage???😅 Singer shook my hand & I almost died so forced to the back, then a biker ("Motorcyle Man") saw me, put me on his shoulders, & walked me right back up front for whole show!😅
Good Times!🤘😎
Anyway, if watch that, shows "Spinal Tap" in introduction!
...Oh, & I also had a chance to see Spinal Tap around 2000 outside Nashville for TEN DOLLARS!!! Had just got back in town, didn't have a ride, & I couldn't talk anybody into taking to us to it, all on me, IN NASHVILLE!!!🙄
Well, see I already told that story!😅
Well, there it goes again!
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This film is legendary among touring musicians large and small. There's not a band in existence that doesn't love this movie because it's a far more realistic picture of touring life than most people imagine.
They wrapped filming the sequel last week 😯
My wife owns a picture disc of their 2nd album, "Break Like the Wind." Ha ha ha haaa
When they toured in the 1990's, I saw them perform at Great Woods (Mansfield, MA) and the opening act was a local band (Big Nazo Band) that had huge paper mache foam puppet heads .. and after Spinal Tap played a few songs, David said, "Finally, a puppet show is opening FOR US!"
The mimes were billy crystal and dana carvey.
your laugh is contagious !
A mighty wind. Same guys, but folk singers.
They say many bands specifically forbid their crew members to watch this movie while travelling on tour busses. (Too close to the truth ! ) 🙂
Still, every musician on earth seems to love this movie, from Trent Reznor to the Pet Shop Boys...
Brace yourself.. next year Rob Reiner will be back with the original cast in Spinal Tap 2 (2024), apparently breaking the record for longest gap between sequels
oh you saw best in show? the guy with the amp that goes to 11, he wins the dog show with his bloodhound, hes also the director of best in show. (hes also the 6 fingered man in princess bride..his fingers go to 11) all these actors stick together in spinal tap all the way thru the christopher guest mockumentaries which he as like 5 or so
Rob Reiner is the son of celebrated comic writer/actor/director Carl Reiner. Rob became well-known as the liberal son-in-law on the 1970s tv sitcom "All in the Family". Here, in this movie, he plays Marti diBergi, the interviewer. In addition to "Stand By Me", he directed "The Princess Bride" and several other movies.
Reading all the end credits will show that all the main characters had a hand in the writing of the story and also of the songs. A big percentage of the script was improvised.
Angelica Huston was the sculptor of the Stone Henge monument. Yep, that was Fran Drescher. Billy Crystal was the head of the mime waiters who scolded Dana Carvey by saying "Mime is money".
There were a lot of well-known faces here playing small roles:
Patrick MacNee was Sir Denis: my generation loved him as the central character in a BBC import spy series, "The Avengers" - not a Marvel creation, but an often-satiric spy series. MacNee played John Steed, a staid and gently charming old-style gentleman partnered by a series of women. The most well-known of these was Diana Rigg as Emma Peel (who you probably know as Lady Olenna from "Game of Thrones"), but there was, before her, Honor Blackman (a James Bond lady) and Linda Thorson, who was not too far off my age when I watched her, and who I liked. Here's a clip of the opening credits from the Diana Rigg era, so you can get a sample of the style: czcams.com/video/AgEqMsfDGnQ/video.html (these ladies, but especially Rigg, were proto-Buffy and Ripley: strong, feminine, assured, self-sufficient but happy to be partnered with a class act like Mr. Steed. Rigg was a role model for me as a short, near-sighted, excitable Brooklyn girl: something to aspire to. I haven't made it there, but we try!).
Howard Hesseman was the rock star in the hotel who attracted the attention that Tap didn't. At this time, he was beloved by many as a main character in "WKRP in Cincinnati", a character-based sitcom about a failing radio station. Hesseman was Johnny Fever, one of the announcers: czcams.com/video/vEuriu9Xdmo/video.html (a very good show, hard to get in rotation anywhere because they used authentic music which requires a fortune in permissions).
Paul Shaffer, who was the hapless record promoter Artie Fuffkin, was a very successful and well-known late-night band leader for David Letterman.
Bruno Kirby, the chauffeur who was reading Sammy Davis, Jr.'s autobiography and who stated that Tap was a fad, was one of those supporting actors who turned up in many places and was always wonderful to watch. Possibly he's most noted in a minor role in "The Godfather II" as Robert deNiro's partner.
And there were many others.
I did see this shortly when it first came out. I was at University and we saw it in the student union hall. I didn't know anything about it and it took me a few minutes into the film before I realized it was a "Mockumentary". Nobody had spoiled it for me and some of the others I was with were also unaware. The band ended up actually doing some tours / shows in character, (yes, they play the instruments and write the music). They released a couple of albums that I owned on cassette at the time, and apparently there is a follow-up film in the works currently. The stories were inspired by actual band stories as told by the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Black Sabbath, KISS, and countless others all rolled into one long-lived band. Another movie in this style, dealing with Folk Music, is titled A Mighty Wind (2003).
Since you requested suggestions:
"Alien,"
"Aliens,"
"Annie Hall,"
"Body Heat,"
"Contact,"
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951 NOT the 2008 remake),
"Deja Vu,"
"Fast Times at Ridgemont High,"
"Forbidden Planet,"
"Frequency,"
"Gandhi,"
"Ghost,"
"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,"
"Good Will Hunting,"
"The Green Mile,"
"Highlander,"
"It Happened One Night,"
"Little Big Man,"
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,"
"The Matrix,"
"Miracle on 34th Street (1947 NOT the remake),"
"Mississippi Burning,"
"Once Upon a Time in the West,"
"The Pink Panther,"
"The Right Stuff,"
"Rio Bravo,"
"Some Like it Hot,"
"Stalag 17,"
"The Thing,"
"The Time Machine (1960 version),"
"Topper,"
"2001: A Space Odyssey (hard to understand without reading the book),"
"Zero Dark Thirty,"
"Zodiac"
This Is where going too 11 comes from. There are 3 live performances in the movie. No script either.
Love this movie 😊